WILTON – Sheldon O. FitzPatric, “Fitz”, 80, a lifelong resident of Wilton, died peacefully following a long, courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 24, at his home.

He was born June 14, 1928, in Wilton, the son of Joseph and Gertrude (Collins) FitzPatric. He was a 1945 graduate of Wilton Academy and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He later attended MCI and on April 10, 1950, married Claire Ouellette of Jay at St. Rose of Lima Church.

In 1948, he began working at the Otis Mill and in 1965 moved to the new mill where he was superintendent of No. 1 and No. 2 paper machines. He was a dedicated employee, working his way to become superintendent of machines Nos. 1 to 5 and No. 2 paper machine was named “The Fitz,” in his honor, at his retirement party on Dec. 31, 1995. He was a member of the IP Quarter Century Club.

He was a former member of the Wilson Lake Country Club and was a life-member of both the Frank L. Mitchell VFW Post 3335 and the Lane Dube AMVETS Post 33, both of Jay. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing golf and derived his greatest joy from watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing sports.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Claire, of Wilton; their daughter, Mary Scott and her husband, Dick Scott, of Wilton; grandchildren, Andrew Scott and his wife, Barbara, of Green Cove Springs, Fla., Jennifer Godomsky and her husband, Alex, of Hebron, Thomas Scott and his wife, Kendall, of Durham, Kaitlyn Scott and her fiancée, Leonard Ceglarski, of Bradford, N.H., and Tony Poulin and his wife, Donna, of Aeia, Hawaii; and his great-grandchildren, Brandon, Meghan and Kaila Scott, Joseph and Daniel Godomsky, and Paige Poulin.